News Release

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

An Armed Suspect Shoots and Seriously Injures Another Man, then Takes His Own Life NR10588cj

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Olympic Homicide detectives are investigating an early morning shooting in Koreatown. One victim remains in critical condition and the suspect died at scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

At around 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning, Olympic Area patrol officers received a radio call about a shooting in the 1100 block of South Irolo Street. When the officers arrived, they found a man standing in the street suffering from gunshot wound. Moments later the officers heard a gunshot and began searching in the direction of its origin. They found a second man lying on the ground suffering from a gunshot wound. A gun was recovered nearby. Los Angeles City Fire Department paramedics responded and pronounced the second man dead at the scene and rushed the first victim to a nearby hospital where he is in critical condition.

Based on an investigation that is still underway, it is believed that the two men, both Korean, may have been friends. They were having an argument when one of them, later identified as a 54-year-old Young Moo Choi, pulled out a gun and shot the other. Choi then shot himself in an apparent suicide.

Olympic detectives were later notified by Anaheim Police Department investigators that Choi may have been responsible for a murder in the City of Anaheim less than two hours prior to the Koreatown shooting.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call Olympic Area Homicide Detective Skaggs at 213-382-9470. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.